Educational Partnerships In The Community

R 400.8113 · R 400.8113 Program director qualifications; responsibilities. (2) A program director shall be present in the center in the following manner: (b) At least 50% of the time children are in care but not less than a total of 6 hours per day for programs operating 6 or more continuous hours.

A review of the relevant paperwork for this child care license, prior to the on site inspection, revealed that Britta Carlson is the licensee of Educational Partnerships in the Community, not the program director. The program director on record at the time of the inspection was Charise Baker. An on site inspection was conducted on 03/29/2023. A review of staff files revealed that Ms. Carlson is a child care staff member as well as the licensee. Consultation was provided in regards to notifying the licensing consultant when a program director leaves. In this instance, the licensee stated that Ms. Baker was no longer the program director. The licensee was working on getting program director approval for a second staff member. Both Ms. Baker and the staff member were on site at the time of the investigation. 2

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R 400.8146 · R 400.8146 Information provided to parents. (3) For infants and toddlers, a center shall provide parents with a written daily record.

Because the complainant was unavailable, the investigation relied on child care staff member interviews. There were only two rooms with children in them, the infant and toddler rooms. Child care staff members 1 and 2 provided copies of daily information shared in regards to the infant room. Child care staff members 3 and 4 stated that information was shared verbally with the parents of children in their group, Room 2, as well as via email and text should the occasion necessitate. All child care staff members interviewed denied misinforming parents. Rooms 1 and 2 were assessed. Appropriate care and supervision was observed. Positive child/adult interactions were also observed. A typical daily routine was posted.

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R 400.8170 · R 400.8170 Outdoor play area. ......................................... (7) The outdoor play area must be in a safe location.

Prior to the on site inspection, the original licensing report was reviewed. The playground is an isolated section of the parking lot adjacent to the building. It is not fenced and there are no water hazards. Child care staff members 2, 3, 4, and 5 stated that they felt the playground was safe. Child care staff member 1 stated that center typically took the children for a walk down a trail that is located 3 within close proximity to the child care center. The children were in strollers or buggies. A review of ten children's files included written permission for routine field trips. No children were observed outside at the time of the investigation.

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R 400.8143 · R 400.8143 1 Children's records. (1) At the time of a child's initial attendance, a center shall obtain a child information card, using a form provided by the department or a comparable substitute, that is completed and signed by the child's parent. The center shall keep it on file and accessible in the center.

While on site, approximately ten children's files were reviewed. All files contained the required information.

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R 400.8143 · R 400.8143 Children's records. (6) Within 30 days of a child's initial attendance, a center shall obtain, keep on file, and make accessible in the center a record of a physical evaluation of the child that notes any 4 restrictions and is signed by a physician or the physician's designee. ................

While on site, eleven of fifteen staff files were reviewed. All files contained the required information.

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R 400.8143 · R 400.8143 Children's records. (11) A center shall maintain an accurate record of daily attendance at the center that includes each child's first and last name and each child's arrival and departure time.

The complainant was unavailable for further details, consequently the fire and tornado drills were requested and reviewed by this consultant while on site. There were no signs of tampering. The licensee and licensee designee denied forging the fire and tornado drills.

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R 400.8125 · R 400.8125 Staff; volunteer; requirements (5) A written statement must be signed and dated by staff and volunteers at the time of hiring or before volunteering indicating all of the following information: (a) The individual is aware that abuse and neglect of children is against the law. (b) The individual has been informed of the center's policies on child abuse and neglect. (c) The individual knows that all staff and volunteers are required by law to immediately report suspected abuse and neglect to children's protective services.

The complainant was unavailable for further detail, consequently this consultant observed children and staff using the designated hand-washing sinks to wash their hands. Children were observed lining up outside the bathroom.

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R 400.8128 · R 400.8128 1 Staff; volunteer; tuberculosis A center shall keep on file at the center evidence to verify that each child care staff member and each volunteer who has contact with children at least 4 hours per week for more than 2 consecutive weeks is free from communicable tuberculosis (TB). Verification of TB status is required within 1 year before employment or volunteering.

Eleven of fifteen staff files reviewed by this consultant included proof that each child care staff member is free from TB.

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R 400.8131 · R 400.8131 Professional development requirements. (11) Verification of all professional development required by this rule must be kept on file at the center or online at ....................................................... MiRe ist . ..............................................................................................................................................

Eleven of fifteen staff files reviewed by this consultant included professional development required by this rule.

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R 400.8161 · R 400.8161 Emergency procedures. (7) A written log indicating the date and time of fire and tornado drills must be kept on file at the center. 1

The written logs indicating the date and time of the fire and tornado drills were reviewed by this consultant and showed no signs of tampering or forgery.

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R 400.8350 · 1 R 400.8350 Toilets; hand washing sinks. (1) A center shall provide toilet and hand washing sinks as follows: (b) A center operating with the children in attendance 5 or more continuous hours a day shall provide at least 1 toilet and 1 hand washing sink for every 15 children or fraction thereof.

Children and staff were observed by this consultant using the hand-washing sink in an appropriate fashion. Children were observed lining up to use the bathroom.

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R 400.8122 · R 400.8122 Lead caregiver; qualifications; responsibilities. ................................................. ..................................... (7) Lead caregivers for infants and toddlers shall have 3 semester hours, 4.5 CEUs, or 45 hours of MiRegistry approved infant and toddler development and care practices within 6 months of hire. These semester hours or CEUs may satisfy a portion of the requirements of subrule 6 of this rule. 7

Child care staff member Savannah Klapeck does not have the required infant and toddler development and care training to be a lead infant/toddler caregiver.

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R 400.8185 · R 400.8185 Primary care. (5) Primary caregiving assignments must be documented and provided to parents.

No primary caregiving assignments were posted in the infant/toddler classroom.

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R 400.8335 · R 400.8335 Food services and nutrition; provided by center. (11) Prepared bottles and beverage containers of milk and formula must be refrigerated and labeled with the child's first and last name, date, and time of preparation.

This consultant observed an infant's bottle without the child's first and last name, date, and time of preparation on a shelf in the infant room as this was where a child care staff member had placed the bottle.

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